Jan 29, 2019
Cadillac Understeer

Here at Cadillac of New Orleans, we don’t mind spending time to make our clients and others safer on the roads. To this end, it is important for drivers to understand how to extricate themselves if they find themselves in oversteer or understeer situations.

Understeer and oversteer both refer to situations in which vehicle tires lose control or contact with road surfaces. Understeer primarily occurs on the front wheels of front wheel drive vehicles. When it happens, understeer tires lose their ability to grip the road and to turn in one direction or another. When this happens, drivers should avoid slamming on the brakes and rather allow the wheels to roll freely. They should also throttle back, and this should gradually bring the car back into control.

Oversteer involves loss of control of the rear wheels during takeoffs or turns. The resulting spinouts can rob drivers of control and can even result in accidents. Drivers who experience oversteer should remove their feet gradually from the gas pedals and at the same time gently turn the wheels in the direction of the rear skid. By doing so, drivers can avoid completely spinning out.